Dispensing tubes



July 8, 1958 J. H.MWHIRTER 2,842,295

DISPENSING TUBES Filed Jan. 22, 1957 Fig.2

Fig.6

DISPENSING TUBES John H. McWhirter, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application January 22, 1957, Serial No. 635,273 9 Claims. (Cl. 222549) This invention relates to dispensing tubes, and has particular relation to dispensing tubes with captive caps. This invention has particular application to, and in its specific aspects, is intimately tied'in with, dispensing tubes or bottles of the collapsible type which contain a liquid or semi-liquid material such as tooth paste or' shaving cream, but in its broader aspects this invention may also be applied to rigid tubes. or containers such as glass containers for such materials as powder or liquid. I

Dispensing tubes with captive caps in accordance with the teachings of the prior art are typified by Patents 1,354,921, to Sondhelm, and 2,729,361 to Ephron. Sondhelm discloses a tube having a neck which tapers out towards the body of the tube and which has a slot adapted to be closed by a sleeve when the sleeve is set over the greater-diameter portion of the neck. The contents of the tube is extruded through the slot. In the open position the closure sleeve of Sondhelms tube is held by friction on a pin which extends from the neck.

To hold the sleeve the pin must fit the sleeve tightly. In time the content of the tube which finds its way to the pin and particularly to the junction of the pin and neck cause the sleeve to stick to the neck. In addition, the content of the tube adheres to the tapered portion of the neck and causes the sleeve to stick in thesealed posi-' tion.

Ephron discloses a captive cap in the form. of a sleeve wlr'ch screws up and down a threaded neck. Inthis case the content of the tubebecornes imbedded inthe roots of the thread causing the cap to stick.

It is then an object of this invention toprovide a dis-' pensing tube with a captive cap which shall be readily operable to open and close the tube and yet in the closed position shall tightly seal the tube.-

In accordance with this invention in its specific aspects, a dispensing tube is provided which has a neck of oval cross section having a lateral opening through-which the material in the tube may be extruded or projected. A sleeve having an oval opening similar to the cross. section of the neck is mounted on the neck. The opening in the sleeve is of slightly greater area than the neck cross-section so that when the sleeve opening and the neck crosssection coincide the sleeve is slidable along the neck. The sleeve is preferably composed of flexible materials so that when the sleeve is turned at an angle to the position of coincidence, it is locked on the neck. Thus the lateral opening can be sealed closed and the sleeve can be held on the neck at a point displaced from the openin when the material in the tube is to be dispensed.

The sleeve may be held on the neck by a ridge at the end of the neck away from the body of the tube. The ridge need be only of slightly greater area than the sleeve and the sleeve being composed of flexible material may during assembly of the dispensingtube be pressed onto the neck over the ridge. The lateral opening should pref erably be near the end of the neck away from the body. Since the ridge is of slightly greater area than the neck,

1 United States Patent 2,842,296 Patented July 8 1958 the content of the tube cannot become deposited excessively at the junction of the neck and ridge. v

The novelfe'atures considered characteristic of this invention are disclosed generally above. The invention it-' self, both as to its organization and its methods of opera: non, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will b e'under'stoo'd from the following description of specific embodiments read in connection with: the accompanyin'g drawing, in which Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of a dispensing tube in accordanc'e'with'this invention;

Fig. Z'is a view'in section taken along line H-II of the tube of Fig. 1 with the closure in one position;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along line III-III of the tube of Fig. 1 with the closure in another position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view in section'taken along line Iv -TV of Fig. 1;

a modification of this invention;

Fig.6 is a view in side elevation showing how the tube Fig; 5 is a view in section similar to Fig. 4 showing according to this invention may be mounted;

i'ng tube having a body lland 'a neck 13.

13: may be composed of the metalor plastic Fig. 7 is a view in section this invention; and

Figs. 8 vand.9 are.viewssimilar to fieation-s 'of this invention. 7

The appar-atusshown in Figs. 1 through 4 is a dispens Thebody 11 showing a modification of Fig 2 showing modiand. neck. of which dispensing tubes are usually composed and may be integral 'or composed oftwo joined parts as is customar'y' in the art; v

Thus a separate neck 14 as shown in Fig. which be screwed onto the body 11 may be provided. The neck 14. has an internal thread 16 which engages a th'read'18 on the body 11. -Th-exstructure shown in Fig. 7' has the advantagethat separate necks 14 may be provided for the bodies 11 now in stock and thus this invention may be applied to the bodies presently available.

The outside surface ofthe neck 13 (or 14) is of oval transverse cross-section and has. a ridge 15 remote from the body 11 and a lateral opening 17 preferably adjacent the ridge 15. The neck 14 has in addition to the ridge 15 a similar ridge 22 at the opposite end. l

The tube also includes a closure sleeve 19 havingan opening 2-1 therein of contour similar-to the cross section of the outer surface of the neck 13 (or 14). The sleeve- 19 is composed otan expandible or flexible material such as flexible polyethylene or nylon and may be set so that its opening 21coincides with the neck cross-section as shown in Fig. 2 or so that the opening and cross section are out of coincidence by an angle as'shown in Fig. 3. During assembly of the tube, the sleeve 19 may be forced over the ridge 15. The sleeve 19 is prevented from slipping off neck 13 by ridge 15 and off either end of neck 14 by ridges 15 or 22.

In the handling of the tube the sleeve 19 is positioned over the opening'17 and turned to a position at an angle to the position of coincidence to seal the opening when the tube is not in use (Fig. 3). 'When the tube is to be used, the sleeve 19 is returned to the position of coin cidence, slid along the neck 13 away from the opening 17 and then turned at an angle to the position of coincidence. The material in the tube may then be dispensed. After use the sleeve 19 is again turned to a position of coin-. cidence moved over. the opening 17 and turned at an angle as before to seal the opening.

The outer surface of the sleeve 19 may be rectangular as shown or of otherpolygonal shape or knurled and circular to facilitate handling. A hollow sleeve 31 as shown in Fig. 5 may be provided.

Fig. 6 shows how the tube, according to the invention,

3' may be suspended from a slotted bracket 41 mounted onawall 51. g

While it is desirable that the opening in the sleeve and the outer cross-sectionof the neck be similar, the opening in the sleeve may not be precisely similar to the cross section of the neck. The opening maybe dentated or have a longitudinal ridge or button 91 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or a circumferential ridge. Yreterably the button 91 may be so dimensioned that in the locked position of the tube it slips into the opening 17. The button then affords an additional facility for sealing. Alternately the neck may also be indented as at 93 so that in the locked position the ridge or button slips into an indentation in the neck.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed herein, it is understood thatrmany modifications thereof are feasible. The invention then is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the opening and being rotatable about said neck so that spirit of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section, difierent points on the curve of said opening being displaced different distances from the center of said curve of said cross section so that when said sleeve is oriented in a position in which said closed curves opening in said sleeve and said closed curves cross section of said neck coincide said sleeve is slidable along said neck and when said sleeve is turned to a position at an angle to said first named position said sleeve is locked on said neck,

and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve, said sleeve having a protuberance thereon which is adapted to engage said lateral opening in the locked position of said tube.

2. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having an external surface of generally oval cross section, and having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having a generally oval opening of the same general cross sectional shape as said cross section of said neck but of slightly greater area and said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said oval opening in said sleeve and said oval cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve.

3. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having an outer surface of generally oval cross section, and having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication With the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve being composed of a flexible material and having a generally oval opening of the same general cross sectional shape as said cross section of said neck but of slightly greater area and said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said oval opening in said sleeve and said oval cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve.

4. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the inten'or of said body, said ,neck having an outer surface of generally oval cross section, and having a lateral opening therein near the end of said neck remote from said body, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a clo sure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having a generally oval opening of the same general cross sectional shape as said cross section of said neck but of slightly greater area and said sleeve engaging said neck in said said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said oval opening in said sleeve and said oval cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first-named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve.

5. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section, different points on the curve of said opening being displaced difierent distances from the center of said curve of said cross section and said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said opening in said sleeve and said cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve.

6. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeeve for said opening, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section,

different points on the curve of said opening being displaced ditferent distances from the center of said curve of said cross section and said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said opening in said sleeve and said cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve, said neck and said body being separate parts with said neck joined to said body by the engagement of an internal thread on said neck and an external thread on said body.

7. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening? being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section, different points on the curve of said opening being displaced 1 difierent distances from the center of said curve of said cross section, said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said opening in said sleeve and said cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve, said sleeve and neck having irregularities thereon which are adapted to mate in the locked position of said tube.

8. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opemiig, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section, different points on the curve of said opening being displaced difierent distances from the center of said curve of said cross section, said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said opening in said sleeve and said cross section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and ridges on the ends 9. A dispensing tube comprising a body, a neck extending from said body in communication with the interior of said body, said neck having a lateral opening therein, said lateral opening being in communication with the interior of said body through said neck, a closure sleeve for said opening, said sleeve having an opening, the cross section of the outer surface of said neck and said opening being in the form of generally similar closed curves with the curve of said opening of slightly greater area than the curve of said cross-section, different points on the curve of said 'opening being displaced different distances from the center of said curve of said cross section and said sleeve engaging said neck in said opening and being rotatable about said neck and slidable along said neck so that said sleeve may be oriented in a position in which said opening in said sleeve and said cross 9 section of said neck coincide whereby said sleeve is slidable along said neck and said sleeve may be turned to a position at an angle to said first named position whereby said sleeve is locked on said neck, and a ridge on the end of said neck remote from said body preventing removal of said sleeve the engaging surfaces of said sleeve and neck being smooth at least in the region of said lateral opening in said neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,539,606 Smith May 26, 1925 1,622,714 Grandt Mar. 29, 1927 1,794,023 Liberthal Feb. 24, 1931 1,842,309 Borro Jan. 19, 1932 2,328,246 Albion Aug. 31, 1943 2,529,424 Seigh Nov. 7, 1950 2,695,737 Schlicksupp Nov. 30, 1954 2,765,954 Wohlbier Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 832,616 France Sept. 29, 1938 316,424 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1929 

